Greetings and Goodbyes in English
Do more with this exercise
Use these short phrases to start and end a friendly conversation. Listen, say each phrase, then practise with the dialogue and exercises.
A first meeting
Ana
Hello!
Leo
Hi!
Ana
My name is Ana.
Leo
I'm Leo.
Ana
Nice to meet you.
Leo
Nice to meet you, too.
Ana
See you later.
Leo
Bye!
Starting a conversation
Hello!A greeting at any time.
“Hello!” “Hi!”
Hi!An informal greeting.
“Hi!” “Hello!”
Good morning.A greeting before midday.
“Good morning.” “Good morning.”
Good afternoon.A greeting after midday.
“Good afternoon.” “Hello.”
Good evening.A greeting in the evening.
“Good evening.” “Good evening.”
My name is Ana.Tell someone your name.
“My name is Ana.” “I’m Leo.”
I’m Ana.Another way to say your name.
“I’m Ana.” “Nice to meet you.”
Meeting someone
What’s your name?Ask for a person’s name.
“What’s your name?” “I’m Ana.”
Nice to meet you.Say this at a first meeting.
“Nice to meet you.” “You too.”
Nice to meet you, too.Reply when someone says nice to meet you.
“Nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you, too.”
How are you?Ask how a person feels.
“How are you?” “I’m fine.”
I’m fine, thanks.A simple answer to how are you.
“How are you?” “I’m fine, thanks.”
And you?Ask the same question back.
“I’m fine, thanks. And you?”
I’m good, thanks.Another friendly answer.
“How are you?” “I’m good, thanks.”
Ending a conversation
Goodbye.A general way to leave.
“Goodbye.” “Goodbye.”
Bye!An informal goodbye.
“Bye!” “See you.”
See you.Say this when you expect to meet again.
“See you.” “Bye!”
See you later.Say this when you may meet later.
“See you later.” “Bye!”
See you tomorrow.Say this when you meet the next day.
“See you tomorrow.” “Goodbye.”
Good night.Say this when leaving for bed.
“Good night.” “Sleep well.”
Take care.A warm way to say goodbye.
“Take care.” “You too.”
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Match the phrase and meaning
Match each English item with its meaning.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
Choose the right English
Choose the English phrase or word for each meaning.
7.You meet your teacher at 9 a.m. What do you say?
8.You meet someone for the first time. What do you say?
9.Someone asks “How are you?” What is a natural answer?
10.You will meet again tomorrow. What do you say as you leave?
11.It is bedtime. What do you say as you leave?
12.You want to know a new person’s name. What do you ask?
Complete the English
Type the missing word.
Understand the dialogue
Choose the answer from the conversation.
19.What is the first speaker’s name?
Practise greetings and goodbyes in english
The first words in a conversation are often the simplest. Use good morning before midday, good afternoon later in the day and good evening when you greet someone in the evening. Good night is for leaving or going to bed, not for arriving.
At a first meeting, say your name and then nice to meet you. Listen to Ana and Leo greet each other. Practise the short exchange aloud, then choose the right phrase for each situation.
Frequently asked questions
When do I say good evening or good night?
Say good evening when you greet someone in the evening. Say good night when you leave for bed or say goodbye late at night.
How do I reply to nice to meet you?
You can say “Nice to meet you, too.”
Answer key
1. Hello!
Answer: A greeting at any time.
Hello! — A greeting at any time.
2. Good morning.
Answer: A greeting before midday.
Good morning. — A greeting before midday.
3. Good evening.
Answer: A greeting in the evening.
Good evening. — A greeting in the evening.
4. What’s your name?
Answer: Ask for a person’s name.
What’s your name? — Ask for a person’s name.
5. How are you?
Answer: Ask how a person feels.
How are you? — Ask how a person feels.
6. Goodbye.
Answer: A general way to leave.
Goodbye. — A general way to leave.
7. You meet your teacher at 9 a.m. What do you say?
Answer: Good morning.
Good morning. fits this situation.
8. You meet someone for the first time. What do you say?
Answer: Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. fits this situation.
9. Someone asks “How are you?” What is a natural answer?
Answer: I’m fine, thanks.
I’m fine, thanks. fits this situation.
10. You will meet again tomorrow. What do you say as you leave?
Answer: See you tomorrow.
See you tomorrow. fits this situation.
11. It is bedtime. What do you say as you leave?
Answer: Good night.
Good night. fits this situation.
12. You want to know a new person’s name. What do you ask?
Answer: What’s your name?
What’s your name? fits this situation.
13. Good ___, class. It is nine o’clock.
Answer: morning
The complete sentence is Good morning, class. It is nine o’clock.
14. Nice to ___ you.
Answer: meet
The full phrase is Nice to meet you.
15. I'm ___, thanks.
Answer: fine
Both “I'm fine, thanks” and “I'm good, thanks” are natural replies.
16. See you ___.
Answer: tomorrow
The full phrase is See you tomorrow.
17. Good ___. It is time for bed.
Answer: night
The complete sentence is Good night. It is time for bed.
18. What's your ___?
Answer: name
The full phrase is What's your name?
19. What is the first speaker’s name?
Answer: Ana
She says, “My name is Ana.”